Parachute apparatus



F. SMITH 2,13,569

PARACHUTE APPARATUS t Filed March 31, 1937 s sheaves-'Sheny 1 (NVENTOR.

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ATTORN EYS.

Sept'. 20, 1938. F. SMITH PARACHUTE APPARATUS s sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 51, 1957 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

F. SMITH sepia 2Q, w38.,

PARACHUTE APPARATUS Filed Maron s1, 1957 s sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR. Fl :1H d 5 m'd'h ATTORN EYS.

Patented sept. 20,1938

' PARACHUTE APPARATUS Floyd Smith, Buffalo, N.. Y., assignor to Irving Air Chute Co., Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation Application March 3l, 1937, Serial No. 134,109

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in parachute apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of parachute apparatus comprising a harness and a quick connector pack; the latter being so constructed that the container will float away from the wearer upon deployment of the parachute.

A further object of this invention is the provision of parachute apparatus wherein a harness and a quick connector pack are used; the latter having a container which is not reinforced by any rigid expedient, such as wire frames or other stiifening members or frames; the canopy and its coupling means being so related to the container that when the coupling means of the pack is connected with the coupling means of the harness, and after pulling the rip cord the soft container will iioat freely away without injuring or impeding the wearer.

A further object of this invention" is the provision of improved means in the nature of a rip cord which has a slidable connection with its handle, so that premature release opening of the pack is prevented.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved soft parachute pack.

A further objectiof this invention is the provision of an improved non-rigid and exible container for parachutes of a natureto permit of the compact assemblage of a parachute therein.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improvements inrparachute packs of the'nature shown in U. S. Patent #1,958,000.

Other objects and advantages of the inventionVV will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forminga. part of this specication, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 shows the improved parachute apparatus including an improved harness and soft pack in releasably coupled relation with each other upon a wearer.

Figure 1a is a perspective view of the improved soft pack, with part of the pocket cut away to show the rip cord constructionfV Figure 1b is an enlarged sectional view taken through a portion of the rip cord and handle construction.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the improved harness.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the complementary coupling parts of the pack and harness and the relative construction and assemblage thereof.

K Figure 4 is a perspective view of the improved soft pack with the container opened, showing theassemblage of shroud lines and the pocketing 5 means therefor.

Figure 5 is an external view of the improved container of the pack, showing the end naps disassembled from the body of the container, to better designate the construction and the reason l0 why the body of the container will maintain somewhat of a cup-shape to facilitate wrapping of the container about the canopy without wrinkling and distortion.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the improved l5 parachute in a deployed condition, but free of connection with a parachute harness.

Figure 'l is an outer view of the improved soft pack container in its open condition.

Figure 8 is an inner view of the improved soft 20 pack container in its open condition.

Figures 9 and 10 are cross sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 7 of the drawings.

In `the drawings, wherein similar reference 25 characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate a form of harness with which the improved soft pack B may be used.

The improved harness A is of the multiple re- 30 lease type, although some characteristics thereon may be adaptable for use with the single point quick release type such as shown in U. S. Patent #1,899,656. In the main it comprises a body supporting sling 20, consisting of a double thickness 35 of webbing. These thicknesses are stitched together and provide a seat portion 23 upon which the wearer sits during a parachute descent. Side riser portions 24 and 25 extend from the'seat portion and comprise part of the sling. They con- 40 tinue upwardly to provide shoulder straps 26 and 27, and the latter extend downwardly to provide crossed back straps 28 and 29. The double thickness of webbing of the supporting sling ends at the crossing point of the back straps 28 and 29, 45 where a slip connection 30 is provided. The hack straps 28 and 29 from the crossing point 30 extend in relative divergence downward and are permanently stitched at 32 and 33 to the riser webs 25 and 24 at a location normally below the 50 peak of the hips of the wearer. In each of the back straps 28 and 29 adjacent to the connections 32 and 33 there is provided an adjustment for the back strap. 'Ihis adjustment consists of providing an adapter 35 in each of the back 55 ers in an adjustable relation the supporting sling,

2 straps, secured to a small looped portion 'of the back strap, which is the portion directly connected with the sling. straps 28 and 29 are secured through these adapt- (see Figure 2 of the drawings).

The back straps connecting points 28 and 29 extend beyond their 32 and 33 on the riser webs of in a forward direction, and are then turned back and stitched at 40 on the ends of the seat strap of the sling at a location below the points 32 and 33. This provides strap loops 42 and 43 on the supporting sling at each riser web 24 and 25, on which leg strap coupling parts 46 are secured. They may be either coul pling rings or snap fasteners, as desired. The hip strap 50 is extended horizontally so as to be at a location appreciably below the small of the back of the wearer in order to prevent the parachutist from falling rearwardly through the harness and retain the parachutist in the harness without lia-l bility of injury at the time of shock opening of the parachute canopy. v

'Ihe harness additionally' includes leg straps 48 and 49 secured'to the intermediate portion of the seat strap 23 and having coupling parts 50 there--I on for complementary association with the cou.- pling parts 46 above mentioned. These leg straps each have an adjustment therein, of well known construction. f p l It will be noted from Figure 2 of the drawings that the inner layer or thickness of the supporting sling terminates at the shoulder straps and that the back straps 28 and 29 from the shoulder stitching point 60, shown in Figure 2, comprise a layer which is extended forwardly at each of the riser webs, to provide the breast straps 63 and 64 which relatively converge towards each -other and are permanently connected atlocations 10 on the riser webs above the stitch locations 32 and 33 of the back straps. On these loose breast straps 63 and 64 are disposed complementary coupling Darts 13.

Pack coupling rings 15 and 16 are permanently secured in a definitely fixed relation upon the riser webs 24'and 25 respectively, at a location immediately above the breast strap connections 10. These couplings are preferably rings, and they outstand normal to the plane of the riser webs on which they are located; the connection being such that at all times they will outstand in this relation to facilitate connection ofthe pack coupling parts thereto. Stiffening loops 18 are secured to the riser webs in a stitched relation below the coupling parts 15 in order to stiffen the riser webs at this location and thus facilitate the application of the coupling parts of parts 15. These straps 18 also form loops thru which the coupling parts 15 are connected, as shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the soft pack B, the same includes a flexible sheet-like container C housing a parachute canopy D therein.

The parachute canopy D is of any desired construction, and as shown in Figure 6 it includes the shroud lines |00 which terminate in four bunches and are secured to D-rings I0 I, attached to the upper ends of suspension straps |02 and |03. The suspension straps |02 and |03 are each composed of two lengths of material having the D-rings IOI at the free ends thereof. At the bight portions the harness connecting'couplings |04 are positioned. These couplings are preferably of the snap-variety and arevadapted to connect with the complementary coupling parts 15 and 16 of the The ends 31 of the back the pack to the coupling harness in order to connect the pack B 4to the harness.

The container C is of improved construction and free of rigid framework. This container is adapted to oat away upon deployment of the parachute in order not to obstruct the wearer in any sense whatsoever, and the fact that it is unreinforced will prevent injury to the wearer. The container construction is best illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 'l and 8 of the drawings. It includes a square or rectangular shaped body portion IIO having wide end flaps I I and I I2 which are preferably integral therewith. Side flaps |I3 and |I4 are separate pieces but adapted to be permanently stitched to the sides of the body portion I I0 so as to shape the latter in rather a cup or basket shape to facilitate the application of the folded parachute in the container, without creasing or undue wrinkling of the latter. To that end, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the side marginal portions of the body portion |I0 are preferably straight. The ends flaps I I3 and I I4 are generally of triangular formation and the margins |20 thereof, which are adapted to be permanently stitched to the side margins of the body I0, are arcuated. When these marginal portions of the end flaps are secured to the side margins of the body portions |I0 the latter is rather cupped at the sides thereof to facilitate smooth application of the container when the parachute is packed therein. A

The flap I I2 is so connected'with the body portion I I0 as to provide slits |23, shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, through which suspension lines of the canopy extend so that the coupling parts |04 may lie exteriorly of the container when the pack is closed.

It is to be particularly noted that none of the flaps of the sheet of material which comprises the container are reinforced, and the body portion likewise is not reinforced or stiffened in any manner. This distinguishes from conventional practice, since parachute pack containers are ordinarily wire frame stiffened, particularly portions whereon the shroud lines are folded.

Suitable shroud line pockets |30 are provided on the inner side of the body portion |I0 of the container, along the marginal portions of the side flaps I I3 and I I4, as shown in Figure 4.

It is tobe particularly noted that the parachute canopy, the shroud lines and suspension lines |02 and |03 are entirely disconnected from the parachute container C. The suspension lines |02 and |03 Yare rather short and disposed so thatl the coupling snap fasteners |04 are exteriorly of the pack; the suspension lines |02 and |03 being folded on the inside of the body portion of the pack, as shown in Figure 4. The shroud lines are bunched together and engaged in a zig-zag relation between the pockets |30 and the parachute lcanopy is folded and packed in the usual manner on top of the shroud lines. The iiaps II and I2 are then folded over the parachute canopy, in the usual manner, and the side Aflaps I|3 and ||4 are then folded over the ends of the pack parachute mass. Of course the projecting side portions of the naps III and ||2 underlie the flaps I|3 and As is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings each of the snap fastener couplings |04 is provided with an apertured stud |30 thereon. The body p0rtilon I|0 of the container is provided with eyelets I3| adjacent to the slits |23 through which these apertured studs |30a extend. Each of the suspension webs |02 and |03 adjacent to its respective coupling |04 is provided with a exible wire pin |38 adapted'to extend through the aperture of the stud |30a when the latter is projected into the pack. This tightly holds the coupling |04 externally uponthe container when the latter is in packed condition. The position of the couplings 04 is thus secured in a denite and xed relation against swinging or displacement, so that when the wearer desires to apply the pack upon the harness it is not necessary to fumble either with the couplings |04 or with the coupling rings 15 and 'i6 of the harness.

Itis entirely conceivable that the coupling snaps |04 may be located on the harness and the coupling rings of the harness located on the suspension lines |02 and |03. 'I'his would merely reverse the position of the complementary coupling parts of the harness and pack.

It will be noted from Figures 1 and 1a of the drawings that when the parachute canopy is packed, as above described, in the container C, the pack will assume a rather cylindrical shape with the coupling snaps |04 located on the outer side of the body portion of the container when in such position that the individual may readily grasp the ends of the pack and snap the couplings |04 quickly on the couplings of the harness. If desired a supporting handle |40 for the pack may be placed on the container at a location bel tween the slits |23.

As to the fastening of the container, apertured studs |45 are provided in line upon the ap ||l adaptedl for extension through suitable eyelets or grommets I 40 on the other flap H2. The end flaps ||3 and 4 have reinforcing extension tabs |48 thereon provided -with eyelets or grommets |49 adapted for extension over the end studs |45 in a relation which Vwill bey-apparent from the drawings.

As shown in Figure 1a of the drawings a wire rip cord |50 is provided, having the usual retaining wire pins thereon for extension thru the apertures of the studs |45, in order to hold thegrommets on the studs and the container closed with the canopy packed therein. 'I'he end ap H3 is provided with a pocket |53 adapted, as shown in Figure l of the drawings, to house asrip cord handle |54. The latter is provided with a base bar |55a havinga central opening |55 through whichy the rip cord |50 is slidable. The rip cord |50 at one end is provided with a stud |56 to prevent displacement of the rip cord from the handle |54, and at the opposite side of the base bar |55* the rip cord |50 is prevented from detachment from the handle by means of the retaining pins above described. The reason for slidably extending the rlp cord |50 on the base bar |55L is to prevent premature release opening of the parachute pack due to eccentricities in packing or variances in usual packing dimensions. As shown in Figure 1a, when the pack is in closed condition the handle |50 is located in the pocket |53 and with the retaining pins of the rip cord in position in the apertures of the studs the retaining lug |55 p on the end of the rip cord |50 is still spaced an inch or more from the base bar |55. This distance enables a length play of the rip cord .|50 sufficient to take care of all discrepancies during packing. 'I'hus there will be no liability of premature release or opening of the pack, due to improper length of the rip cord or improper positioning of the handle in its pocket.

With respect to the harness and soft pack above described it will .be apparent how the parts are assembled. It will also be obvious that upon opening of the pack by pulling the rip cord the parachute will be deployed and the soft pack will oat away. Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described,- without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: Y

1. A detachable emergency parachute pack comprising a container, a parachute for releasable housing in the container including a canopy and shroud lines, coupling means connected with the shroud lines adapted for releasable connection with a wearer's harness, fastener means for releasably closing the container, and means releas-V ably connecting the coupling means externally on the container, said container being otherwise disconnectible from the parachute canopy and its shroud lines so that the said container will float away from the wearer upon opening of the pack as an incident to load supporting deployment of the parachute canopy.

2. A detachable emergency parachute pack comprising a completely flexible soft container without rigid wall shaping reinforcement in any of the walls thereof, a canopy, suspension means for the canopy, coupling means connected vwith the suspension means, and means releasably connecting the coupling means externally upon the container for releasable connection with the coupling means of a harness, said container being free of any permanent connection with vany other part of the parachute pack so that when the pack is opened the soft container will float freely away.

3. A detachable emergency parachute pack comprising a container, a parachute for releasable housing in the container including a`canopy and shroud lines, coupling means connected with the shroud lines adapted for releasable connection with a wearer's harness, fastener means for releasably .closing the container, and means releasably connecting the coupling means externally on the container in non-wobbling relation so that said coupling means may be attached Without fumbling with a complementary coupling of a wearer's harness, said container being otherwise disconnectible from the parachute canopy and its shroud lines so that the said container will oat away from the wearer upon opening of the pack as an incident to load supporting deployment of the parachute.

4. A detachable emergency parachute comprising a completely flexible soft container without rigid wall shaping reinforcement in any of the walls thereof, a canopy, suspension means for the canopy, coupling means connected with the suspension means, and means releasably connecting the coupling means in non-wobbling relation externally upon the container for releasable connection with complementary coupling means *of a harness, said container being free of any permanent connection with any other part of the parachute pack so'that when the pack is opened the soft container will float freely away.

l5. A detachable emergency parachutepack comprising a container, a parachute releasably housed in the container including a canopy, shroud lines and a pair of coupling parts for releasable connection with complementary coupling parts of a wearer's harness, and means releasably connecting the pack coupling parts externally on the container, the container being free of any permanent connection with any part of the parachute pack so that it will oat away from the wearer upon opening of the pack as` an incident toload supporting deployment of the parachute canopy.

6. An emergency attachable parachute pack comprising a container, a parachute releasably housed in the container including a canopy and shroud lines and a pair of coupling parts, and means releasably connecting the coupling. parts lexternally on the container in definitely spaced 4the parachute canopy.

FLOYD SMITH. 

